The Toronto Maple Leafs have too many forwards.
All Josh Leivo does is score when you play him. Who knows what the Toronto Maple Leafs have done to the kid’s confidence and development by essentially taking him out of game situations for almost a year, but since they did that, they owe him a shot.
Furthermore, they recently called up Kasperi Kapanen. Kasperi Kapanen has to play – his speed and defensive acumen make him a much needed piece of the puzzle. There is no way around the fact that both of these players in the lineup make the Leafs a better team.
Which player lead the Leafs in points per minute last year? Leivo. Who lead them in shot-percentage? (The percentage of shots which the Leafs got while they were on the ice). Leivo was number one, Kapanen number two.
Leivo is a massive shot-generator. Kapanen is adept at preventing them. Both players make the team faster and better defensively, even if they do it in different ways.
Last year, the Leafs gave up the second most shots per game. This year they are tenth. Still not good. While Kapanen was on the ice, they gave up nearly ten shots less per 60. Obviously he wasn’t playing the toughest minutes, but he had an impact. He’s known for having an impact defensively, and in what little NHL time he’s had, he’s lived up to his rep.
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Even if it’s just for the speed factor, the Leafs need to get these guys in the lineup.
Who Sits?
It’s obvious who has to come out of the lineup. Matt Martin has no place on a contending NHL team. Tyler Bozak is a defensive black-hole. Replace them both and watch how the Leafs start to skate every single other team into the ground.
With Bozak out of the lineup and no appetite whatsoever to split up Matthews and Nylander, it’s time to make Mitch Marner a centre. And, as much as I enjoy Zach Hyman, it’s also time to put a little more firepower on the ice with Auston Matthews. Dump Moore for Aaltonen too while you’re at it!
The lines I would set up if I was the coach:
Kapanen – Matthews – Nylander
JVR – Marner – Brown
Komarov – Kadri – Marleau
Hyman – Aaltonen – Leivo
The fact is, Matt Martin and his eight minutes of bad hockey, dumb penalties and stupid fights are not needed. Tyler Bozak provides superfluous offense and horrible defense. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs have two superior NHL players sitting around waiting their turn.
Next: Ranking the Leafs top Prospects
It was OK to be patient with Babcock’s love of ineffective veterans when the team was rebuilding. Now the Leafs are contenders and the extra little bit they can glean from icing their best possible lineup (seen above) is necessary to separate them from the likes of the Senators and to elevate them above the Lightning and Blue Jackets.